Duplicating machine



Sept. 24, 1940. 5 BERMAN 2,215,495

DUPLIGATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 go J9 J5 Z7 19VIII w H W I w .JCI 32 [I Q [I Q zz- I Sept. 24, 1940. s. BERMANDUPLICATING MACHINE Filad Feb. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii PatentedSept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to duplicating machines and particularly to thetype of duplicating machine in which a design in the form of readingmatter or otherwise to be duplicated is prepared in soluble ink on theface of a master sheet which is carried into impression relationshipwith a sheet of paper or other suitable surface to which the matter isto be transferred, the surface to which the transfer is to be made beingmoistened slightly by a very light application of a solvent theretoimmediately before the impression is to be made, such solvent being of atype effective with the ink used for the preparation of the design onthe master sheet. It is the object of my invention to provide in amachine of this type an improved form and arrangement of means forapplying a thin film of the desired solvent upon the face of a sheet forreceiving an impression, improved means for giving the required timedmovement to the parts for enabling the operator conveniently to insertthe sheets successively into efiective relation to the cooperatingparts, improved means for mounting the pressure roller in cooperativerelation to the drum upon which the master sheet is mounted, andimproved means for mounting the master sheet on the drum so as to becarried around thereby and for holding such master sheet in operativeposition on the drum.

t is another object of my invention to provide an improved constructionwhich is very simple in arrangement and operation so as to make itcapable of production at a low cost and so as to enable it to be used toadvantage by any ordinary unskilled worker with a minimum of instructionwhereby the machine shall be made available for wide use, as for exampleby small restaurants for the preparation of their daily menu slips. Tothis end, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide aconstruction involving a minimum number of cooperating parts by whichthe desired results can be attained.

For the accomplishment of the purposes as above set forth, it is one ofthe objects of my invention to provide for the application of a film ofsolvent on the face of a sheet of paper or other suitable material bythe use of an absorbent pad with which said sheet is brought intocontact as it moves to the point of engagement with the master sheet, toprovide means by which such pad is normally held so as to press on thesurface along which the sheet is fed forward for the impression, and toprovide means by which the pad is automatically moved out of the path ofmovement of the sheets in timed relation so that after one sheet'hascleared a new sheet may be readily inserted into the grip of thecarrying devices for the next succeeding impression.

It is another object of my invention to improve machines of this type insundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which Ihave accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings andare hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be newand desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved machine, partly broken away atone point;

Fig.2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially-at the line 33of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, being a vertical section taken at theline 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one end portion of the drum of my machine,with certain of the parts omitted, and with the parts in changedposition as compared with the showing of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view being substantially a sectional viewtaken at line B-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but showing the partsupon an enlarged scale and showing in dotted lines additional parts ascompared with the showing of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the end portion of one of the parts formounting in position the absorbent pad as hereinafter described;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of certain of the parts as shown inFig. 6 but with the parts separated for better showing theirconstruction;

Fig. l0 is a diagrammatic View showing the relation of the parts at thetime when the new sheet is being introduced into impression relationshipto the master sheet; and

Fig. 11 is a vertical section view through one of the housings by whichthe pressure roller of my improved machine is mounted in position.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 15and I6 indicate frame members formed of sheet metal having inwardlyturned flange portions H at their lower edge portions, the flanges I!being connected in the arrangement shown by cross bars 18, as best shownin Figs. 3 and 6. In the arrangement shown, suction cups [9 are providedbelow the flanges il serving as the means for supporting the frame upona table. Cross bars and 2| are also provided as is clearly shown in saidFigs. 3 and 6.

Between the frame standards l5 and I6, I have provided a drum 22, suchdrum in the arrangement shown comprising flanged end discs 23 and 24stamped from sheet metal and secured upon opposite ends of a bodyportion 25 formed of sheet metal rolled into cylindrical form, the edgeportions of the sheet metal 25 being in slightly spaced relation to eachother so as to provide a longitudinally extending slot 26 leading to theinterior of the drum. The drum in the arrangement shown is rigidlymounted in position upon a shaft 21 (see Fig. 6) which is journalled inthe frame standards l5 and I5 for supporting the drum revolubly inposition. Upon one end of the shaft 27, I have mounted a crank arm 28having a handle 29 at its outer end so as to provide for the readyrotation of the drum 22.

As is best shown in Figs. 6 and 10, stop means is provided on the insideof the drum 22 opposite the slot 25. In the arrangement shown, this stopmeans is in the form of brackets of strap metal bent into V-formation,being preferably welded in position opposite the slot, one of suchbrackets being provided at each end of the drum. In the constructionillustrated, the stop devices are indicated by the numerals 30. By theuse of my arrangement as described, a master sheet 3| formed of paper orany other suitable sheet material can readily be inserted through theslot 25 into engagement with the stop devices 35 which serve for truingthe master sheet in position with respect to the drum. When thereafterthe drum 22 is driven in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 10 the sheetSi is wrapped about the drum so as to be carried around therewith. Across bar 32 mounted upon the framework at the upper face of the drumserves to hold the master sheet 3| from unwrapping from the drum duringthe rotary movement thereof.

Below the drum 22, I have mounted a pressure roller 33 preferably havinga body of rubber and mounted in position by means of a shaft 34. As

is best shown in Fig. 11, the shaft 34 is supported at its end portionsby journal blocks 35 having notches in their upper ends for thereception of the shaft, such blocks 35 being slidably mounted inhousings 35 formed of sheet metal and secured on the inner faces of theframe parts l5 and I6. Each of the housings 35 is bent into the form ofa channel closed at its lower end, outwardly extending flanges 37, 38and 39 being provided along the sides and at the lower end for securingthe housings rigidly in position, such housings being preferablyspot-welded to the sheet metal frame members l5 and I5. Coiled springs36a are mounted in the housings 35 below the journal blocks 25 servingto press the shaft 34 and the roller 33 strongly toward the drum 22.

At the rear end of the machine, I have provided a table 45 which in thearrangement shown is formed of sheet metal having its side edges turneddownwardly in the form of flanges 4|. The table is secured in positionby means of notches 42 formed in the ends of the flanges 4| so as tohave snug engagement with the cross rod 25, and notches 43 in the loweredges of said flanges in such arrangement as to have effectiveengagement with the cross rod 2|, as is best shown in Fig. 6. Thearrangement is such that the table when in position is very firmly heldin position while at the same time the table is very readily removablewhen given the required tipping motion for clearing the notches 43 fromthe rod 2|. In the arrangement shown, a guide bar 44 is mounted alongone side edge of the table, such guide bar being in the form of an angleformed from sheet metal as is best shown in Fig. 3. The guide bar 44 isadjustably mounted in position on the table 45 by means of a bolt 45passing loosely through a lug 45 carried by the guide bar, and through atransverse slot 47 in the table into a screw-threaded nut 48 of anysuitable type as is best shown in Fig. 2. A lug 49 carried by the guidebar 44 engages the slot 4'! for assisting in holding the guide bar innormal position with respect to the table.

As is best shown in Fig. 6, I have provided an absorbent pad 55 of anysuitable material which is movably mounted in position above the table45. The mounting means for the pad 50 in the arrangement shown comprisesa sheet metal plate 5| of a length for having a working fit between theframe members I5 and 16, being pivotally mounted between said framemembers by means of pivot pins 52 extending from opposite ends of theplate. In the construction illustrated, the plate 5| is provided with anupstanding flange 53 at the rear edge of the plate, the flange 53 andthe plate 5| being reinforced with respect to each other by end plates54 connected with said parts. The pad 55 is of greater width than theplate 5|, being mounted on the bottom face of said plate with its rearedge portion extending backwardly beyond the flange 53, as is best shownin Fig. 6. The pad is mounted in position upon the bottom face of theplate 5| by means of pins 55 carried by a plate 55 located below thepad, such pins 55 being positioned so as to extend through openings 51through the pad and openings. 58 in the plate 5|, such pins having nuts59 mounted by means of screw threads on their upper ends for holding theplate 56 and the pad 55 removably in position wtih respect to the plate5!. The plate 55 is provided with a flange 69 at its rear edge so as toextend upwardly along the rear edge face of the pad 50, and is providedwith end plate portions 6| connected with the plate and with the flange60 so as to partially enclose the pad 50. Coiled springs 65. areconnected at their rear ends with the end plates 54 and at their forwardends with brackets 63 carried by the frame members I 5 and I6, servingto hold the front edge of the pad 60 normally in position to engage thetop face of the table 45.

The arrangement of the pad 55 and its mounting means is such that therear edge portion of the pad is accessible through the opening betweenthe flanges 53 and 50 so as to enable the operator to apply a suitablesolvent to the pad. The plate 56 and its flanges are so arranged as toassist in the control of the solvent as it is applied to the absorbentpad. The plate 55 is normally held by the springs 52 in backwardlyinclined position so that the solvent applied to the rear edge portionof the pad has a tendency to travel forwardly and downwardly to thefront edge of the pad for material in position on the table 40.

Means is provided for giving the plate 5| a pivotal movement about thepivot pins 52 against the action of the springs 52. This means comprisesa pin 64 carried by the flange 53 and ertending through a slot 65 in theframe member I6, such slot 65 being in the form of an arc about the axisof the pivot pins 52. Upon its outer end, the pin 64 is provided with aroller 66 which is normally held in position in the path of a cam 6'!carried by the crank arm 28. The arrangement is such that at one pointin each complete revolution of the crank handle 28 the cam 61 is broughtinto engagement with the roller 66 so as to displace such rollerforwardly and application to a sheet of i" Fig. 6. When the cam 61 isbrought into operative engagement with the roller 66, the pad is movedto the changed position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 so as to bein spaced relation to the table A0. With the pad in the position asshown in said Fig. 7 the operator is enabled to slide a sheet of paperforwardly along the table 40 toward the right in said Fig. 7 into thebite of the drum 22 and the roller 33.

Stop means is provided adapted normally to stop the rotary movement ofthe crank arm 28 at the time when the pad is standing in position asshown in Fig. '7. This means comprises a stop block 68 mounted inposition by means of a screw 69 upon the outer face of the frame memberl6, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The stop 68 is in position to beengaged by a spring pressed member 10 carried by the handle 29 ofthecrank arm 28. The arrangement is such that when the spring pressedmember 10 engages the block 68 the crank arm is normally stopped in theposition as shown in Fig. 5, the continued rotary movement of the crankarm being possible only by the application of pressure to the armsufficient for causing the spring pressed detent I0 to be retracted forclearing the block 68.

In Fig. 10, I have shown the parts more or less diagrammatically in thepositions which they occupy at the time when the pad is in raisedposition as shown in Fig. '7 and in which the detent 10 is in engagementwith the block 68 as shown in Fig. 5.

When a master sheet 3| having a design formed of soluble ink upon itsouter face is mounted in position on the drum 22 as shown in Fig. 10 soas to be carried around by the drum in counter-clockwise direction insaid figure by power applied through the crank arm 28, when the crankarm 28 reaches the point as illustrated in Fig. 5 so as to hold the pad50 in its raised position and so as to cause the spring pressed detent10 to engage the block 68, the crank arm 28 s normally stopped except asadditional power is applied thereto beyond the normal power required forcarrying it to such critical position. When the drum is stopped in theposition as shown in Fig. 10, the operator places a sheet of paper II inposition upon the table 40 and presses such sheet forward so as to bringits front edge into engagement between the master sheet 3| and theroller 33.' Additional pressure is then applied upon the crank arm 28 soas to cause the detent to be retracted for permitting the arm to passthe block 68 for further rotation of the drum 22 in counter-clockwisedirection. Upon such renewed rotation of the drum, the sheet H iscarried forward by the drum and roller so as to have an effectiveimpression relationship with the master sheet 3!. As soon as the crank28 passes the critical point as shown in Fig. 5 corresponding to theposition of the parts as shown in Fig. 10, the springs 62 serve toreturn the absorbent pad 58 to the position as shown in Fig. 6, with itsforward edge portion in engagement with the top face of the sheet H.Upon the subsequent forward movement of the sheet H toward the right inFig. 10 as carried ahead by the drum and the roller, a thin film of thesolvent carried by the pad 50 is deposited upon the top face of thesheet, such film being applied at a point adjacent to that at which theeffective impression takes place, as shown in Fig. 6. As the sheet I! iscarried forward under the master sheet, the solvent carried by saidsheet H serves to soften the ink of the design on the master sheet and acopy of the design is transferred to said sheet H. In the forwardmovement of ,the sheet 'Il beyond the roller 33, its leading edge isdirected so as to pass over a cross bar I2, as shown in Fig. 6, suchcross bar 12 serving to support the sheet H so as to cause the sheetwhen released by the drum and roller to slide normally into a suitabletray 13 removably supported in position. As soon as the lever 28 againreaches the critical position as shown in Fig. 5, the arm 28 is normallybrought again to a stop, ready for the insertion of the next succeedingsheet for a new impression operation.

It will be understood that the design on the master sheet 3| formed ofsoluble ink may be ap- I plied to said sheet in any suitable manner,being preferably applied by the use of a hectograph carbon or the like,and being of any desired color or combination of colors. For thepreparation of a master sheet comprising a design in the form ofordinary handwritten matter, it is only necessary that the carbon paperbe faced toward the paper so as to produce a reversed design which isagain reversed to normal condition by the impression operation.

While I prefer to employ the form of arrangement as shown in my drawingsand as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is notto be limited to the arrangement shown except so far as the claims maybe so limited, it being understood that changes in the formandarrangement might well be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. In a duplicating machine, the combination of means for mechanicallygripping a sheet of material when fed edgewise thereto and crankoperated means for forwarding said sheet in impression relationship withrespect to a design prepared from soluble ink and carried by theforwarding means, a table adjacent to said forwarding means adapted tosupport a sheet in feeding position, an absorbent pad, means for movablysupporting said pad adjacent to the face of said table so as to engagethe face of a sheet on the table or to be moved alternatively in thedirection away from the table, yielding means adapted normally to pressthe pad toward the face of the table, and means carried by the crank andadapted automatically at timed intervals in the operation of the machineto engage said pad supporting means and to give said pad a movement inthe direction away from the table for permitting the insertion of asheet of material between the pad and the table.

2. In a duplicating machine, the combination of means for mechanicallygripping a sheet of material when fed edgewise thereto and forforwarding said sheet in impression relationship 1 with respect to adesign prepared from soluble ink and carried by the forwarding means, atable "adjacent to said forwarding means adapted to support a sheet infeeding position, an absorbent pad, means for movably supporting saidpad adjacent to the face of said table so as to engage the face of asheet on the table or to be moved alternatively in the direction awayfrom the table, yielding means adapted normally to press the pad towardthe face of the table, a manually operated arm mounted so as to make asingle complete revolution for each complete cycle of the movement ofsaid gripping and forwarding means through an impression operation, andmeans movable with said pad supporting means actuated by directengagement with said arm at each revolution thereof for giving said pada movement in the direction away from the table for permitting theinsertion of a sheet of material between the pad and the table intoposition to be gripped in proper timed relation for an operativeimpression movement.

3. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a drum rotatably mountedin position and arranged for carrying a design of soluble ink on itsface, a roller rotatably mounted in impression relationship to saiddrum, a table adjacent to said drum adapted to support a sheet infeeding position between the drum and the roller, an absorbent pad,means for movably supporting said pad adjacent to the face of the tableso as to engage the face of a sheet on the table or to be movedalternatively in the direction away from the table, yielding meansadapted normally to press the pad toward the face of the table, amanually operated crank arm for rotating said drum, and means movablewith said pad supporting means actuated by direct engagement with saidcrank arm at each revolution thereof for giving said pad a movement awayfrom the table for permitting the insertion of a sheet of materialbetween the pad and the table into the bite of said drum and roller foran operative impression movement.

4. In a duplicating machine, the combination of means for mechanicallygripping a sheet of material when fed edgewise thereto and forforwarding said sheet in impression relationship with respect to adesign prepared from soluble ink and carried by the forwarding means, atable adjacent to said forwarding means adapted to support a sheet infeeding position, an absorbent pad, means for movably supporting saidpad adjacent to the face of said table so as to engage the face of asheet on the table or to be moved alternatively in the direction awayfrom the table, yielding means adapted normally to press the pad towardthe face of the table, means for driving said gripping and forwardingmeans including a manually operated crank, means movable with said padsupporting means actuated by a cam on said crank for giving said pad amovement in the direction away from the table for permitting theinsertion of a sheet of material between the pad and the table intoposition to be gripped when the parts reach the point at which a newsheet is to be inserted, and stop means coacting with said crank adaptednormally to stop the movement of the crank at the point of the operationat which said pad is held away from the table for the insertion of a newsheet and adapted upon further turning of the crank to releaseyieldingly for permitting continued movement of the parts through thenext succeeding impression operation.

5. In a duplicating machine the combination of means for mechanicallygripping a sheet of material when fed edgewise thereto and forforwarding said sheet in impression relationship with respect to adesign prepared from soluble ink and carried by the forwarding means, atable adjacent to said forwarding means adapted to support a sheet infeeding position, an absorbent pad, means for movably supporting saidpad adjacent to the face of said table so as to engage the face of asheet on the table or to be moved alternatively in the direction awayfrom the table, yielding means adapted normally to press the pad towardthe face of the table, a manually operated arm mounted so as to make asingle complete revolution for each complete cycle of the movement ofsaid gripping and forwarding means through an impression operation,means movable with said pad supporting means actuated by directengagement with said arm at each revolution thereof for giving said pada movement in the direction away from the table for permitting theinsertion of a sheet of material between the pad and the table intoposition to be gripped in proper timed relation for an operativeimpression movement, and stop means adapted normally by directengagement with said arm to stop the movement of the arm and thegripping and forwarding means when they reach the point at which a newsheet is to be inserted and adapted upon the application of increasedpower to release yieldingly for permitting continued movement of theparts through the next succeeding impression operation.

6. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a frame, a drumrotatably mounted on said frame and arranged for carrying around thereona sheet of paper wrapped thereabout and having on its face a designformed of soluble ink, and means cooperating with said drum for carryinga piece of sheet material past the drum in impression relationshiptherewith so as to transfer a copy of the design from the drum to theface of said sheet comprising housing members formed of sheet metalstamped into the form of channels closed at their lower ends and havingoutwardly extending flanges along their sides and at the end forsecuring the members in position on the inner faces of the frame partsat opposite ends of the machine, coiled springs in said housings,journal blocks slidably mounted in said housings and bearing againstsaid springs respectively, a shaft revolubly mounted in grooves formedin the top faces of said journal blocks and extending through slots inthe adjacent frame parts, and a roller mounted on said shaft betweensaid journal blocks and pressed by said springs strongly against theface of said drum.

'7. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a plate, pin meansrising from said plate, an absorbent pad having apertures to receivesaid pin means and extending beyond said plate for moistening a sheetfed thereunder, and means cooperating with said pin mens for pressingsaid pad firmly against said plate.

8. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a plate, pin meansrising from said plate, an absorbent pad mounted on said pin means,flanges at the back and at the ends of said plate for partiallyenclosing said pad for assisting in the application of a liquid solventto the pad, and means cooperating with said pin means for pressing saidpad firmly against said plate.

9. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a plate, an absorbentpad positioned on the bottom face of said plate and extending backwardlybeyond the edge of the plate, a second plate positioned on the bottomface of said pad, pins carried by said second plate and extendingthrough openings in the pad and the first mentioned plate, and meanscooperating with said pins for connecting the pad and the second plateremovably with said first named plate, and flanges at the back and atthe ends of said second plate for partially enclosing said pad forassisting in the application of a liquid solvent to the pad.

SAM BERMAN.

